The Legal 500

Heid Schiefer Rechsanwälte Gmbh is a highly regarded specialist public procurement boutique, particularly for construction projects and PPP. Stephan Heid is highly recommended.

Schramm Öhler Rechtsanwälte is a four-partner boutique that specialises in advising state-owned companies on construction and procurement work, as well as PPP. The practice advised Steiermärkische Krankenanstalten-gesellschaft in a public tendering process relating to the measuring and control system for the new Landeskrankenhaus 2020 and several other Styrian hospitals. The team also advised ÖBB on several rail procurement projects. Johannes Schramm, Georg Zellhofer, Matthias Öhler and Gregor Stickler are recommended.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte recently advised an international service provider on a tender to provide security services at airports, and is experienced in representing financial services clients. Raoul Hoffer leads the team, which also features Johannes Barbist, who ‘finds solutions to problems that work within tight timeframes’.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati has good experience advising contracting and public authorities on tendering processes. It recently advised Austrian motorways operator Asfinag on excluding a party from several tenders because of professional misconduct. Irene Welser and Michaela Siegwart are recommended.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides ‘first-class service’, and advises public authorities and bidders. It is particularly recommended for cross-border matters. In 2011, it continued to advise Brenner Basistunnel on all procurement matters relating to the construction of a 55km tunnel connecting Austria and Italy. The team also advised traffic safety company Dürr in its role as adviser on several procurement matters relating to the €400m purchase of equipment for the Austrian highways. Practice head Bernt Elsner is recommended.

Dorda Brugger Jordis represents public authorities and bidders in the healthcare sector, and advised the Austrian Red Cross, ÖRK, in tender proceedings launched by the Austrian Ministry of Interior. The team also advised the public authority in a tender process for a diagnosis information system for four hospitals in a model region in the Province of Lower Austria. Practice head Bernhard Müller is recommended.

Eisenberger & Herzog has experience advising bidders and tendering bodies, and in 2011 advised Volvo as bidder in a framework contract to supply trucks to Asfinag.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s key strengths lie in contentious matters and in representing bidders. It recently advised Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft on two EU-wide tenders and negotiations relating to framework agreements for management consulting services. Axel Reidlinger and Stephan Denk head the practice.

Graf & Pitkowitz Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides service that is ‘experienced, fast, personally engaged and all at a reasonable cost’.

Stephan Schmalzl leads the team, which recently advised a German healthcare products manufacturer on procurement matters relating to the Austrian University Hospitals.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH has good experience advising both federal ministries and construction companies on a wide range of procurement projects, and is particularly noted for tunnelling projects. Practice head Katharina Trettnak-Hahnl recently advised a pharmaceuticals company on licences to provide healthcare services.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte’s ‘absolutely reliable’ team recently advised an energy company on the €130m tendering of smart metering equipment. Robert Ertl is ‘an expert in this field and highly analytical’, and Michael Breitenfeld is also recommended.

Willheim Muller Rechtsanwalte’s ‘young and dynamic’ team recently advised Siemens Bacon & Co in a successful challenge against the bidding authority relating to the procurement of heating and ventilation systems for swimming pools.

The ‘absolutely superb’ Wolf Theiss has a ‘balanced team that works with minimum response time and universal accessibility. The team’s technical understanding sets it apart from competitors’. It is recommended for cross-border EU work, and recently advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on review procedures relating to public procurement framework assessments. Practice head Manfred Essletzbichler is ‘remarkably experienced in a variety of complex infrastructure tenders’.